Posted by : attorney stevelee

Rubbernecking Accidents

There are many driver distractions that can lead to collisions, and one of the most dangerous of these is rubbernecking. Rubbernecking is the act of staring at a roadside distraction to the point that you turn your head in order to continue watching as you drive by.

Unfortunately, distracted driving due to rubbernecking may result in severe injuries, particularly when these accidents occur at highway speeds.

Rubbernecking Is a Distraction

While it’s only natural for a motorist to be curious when spotting something unusual on the roadway, this curiosity can lead to serious accidents. Just like texting or eating, rubbernecking distracts motorists by taking their eyes off of the road ahead.

According to the Journal of Transportation Technologies, a study conducted by the Crash Investigation Team of the Transportation Safety Training Center at Virginia Commonwealth University found that rubbernecking was the primary cause of vehicle accidents. Rubbernecking may cause drivers to have:

  • A rear-end collision with the vehicle ahead of them.
  • A head-on accident by swerving into another lane and colliding with oncoming traffic.
  • Trouble seeing traffic lights or stop signs, resulting in a T-bone collision at an intersection.
  • A multi-vehicle pileup by slowing down or stopping unexpectedly.
  • A collision by using their smartphone to take photos or videos of the roadside distraction.

Proving Negligence

Drivers are expected to keep their eyes on the road. A rubbernecking motorist who breaches this duty to behave responsibly may be deemed negligent by a court. An accident victim’s attorney must demonstrate an accident wouldn’t have occurred had the at-fault driver taken reasonable precautions.

If were injured due to a rubbernecking driver’s negligence, an experienced vehicle accident attorney can help you receive compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. To learn more, contact the law offices of Steve M. Lee, P.C., by using the form on this page.

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